Biblical understanding and engagement among today’s Gen Z college students is at a crisis point. In their 2018 Gen Z Report, Barna indicated that “the percentage of people whose beliefs qualify them for a biblical worldview declines in each successively younger generation: 10 percent of Boomers, 7 percent of Gen X and 6 percent of Millennials have a biblical worldview, compared to only 4 percent of Gen Z.” This correlates with the decline in biblical literacy. The American Bible Society reported in their 2023 State of the Bible Report that Generation Z is the least likely to turn to Scripture (30%), as compared to older generations.

Kinnaman and Matlock, in their book, Faith for Exiles, indicated that church attendance is also in decline among Gen Z. “Today, nearly two-thirds of all young adults who were once regular churchgoers have dropped out at one time or another (64%).” They explained that today’s society is “especially and insidiously faith repellent, making resilient faith tougher to grow today using the discipleship and teaching methods we relied on throughout the twentieth century.”

Elmore and McPeak, in their book, Marching Off the Map, indicated that students today are EPIC learners: Experiential, Participatory, Image Rich (visual), and Connected (relational). 

While students have always learned best through experience over lecture, this is especially true today in a world where young people are inundated with information. Furthermore, participation is key to metacognition and ownership in learning where students are constantly engaging and interacting in processes, conversations, and content curation. As students today live in a visually rich environment, where images and videos are a primary form of learning and information, effective education must include visual elements, as well as connection and collaboration with others, both mentors and peers. These principles, which are being applied in many educational settings, can be applied in biblical literacy and discipleship efforts as well.

Here are some key implications for those who seek to encourage biblical literacy in the next generation:

1. Gen Z does not learn the way previous generations learned. We must be willing to adapt methods of Bible training, spiritual formation, and discipleship in order to effectively engage this generation. 
2. Despite statistics on biblical illiteracy and disengagement from the church, Gen Z is open, and even desiring, to understand and engage with the Bible and spiritual truth. They need opportunities to learn and interact in ways that are meaningful and effective for them.
3. Gen Z can move toward a deeper understanding and appreciation for biblical truth when engaged in experiential, immersive, visual, and interactive ways.

We have an opportunity to inspire and encourage biblical literacy in the next generation by being willing to understand how they learn, engage, and communicate; to discern how God is preparing them to engage and serve in the culture and context in which they live; and to adapt our teaching and discipleship methods for twenty-first century learners. 

For more on this topic, check out this month's episode of The Leading Tomorrow Podcast. 

For years, the attendance of young people in worship gatherings has been in decline. The American Survey Center reported that Generation Z is the least religious generation yet. More than one-third (34 percent) of Generation Z are religiously unaffiliated, a significantly larger proportion than among Millennials (29 percent) and Generation X (25 percent). Fewer than one in five (18 percent) Baby Boomers and only 9 percent of the Silent Generation are religiously unaffiliated. But these numbers do not tell the entire story. 

Springtide Research Institute's most recent report on The State of Religion and Young People: Exploring the Sacred, indicates that young people are looking for sacred experiences . . . they just might not be finding them in places of worship. The report also highlighted that it is not always the physical place that matters most for young people to have a meaningful spiritual experience. Instead, in this study, young people describe sacred moments as interrupting daily life— moments that are characterized by truth, wonder, awe, gratitude, and a sense of interconnectedness. Springtide reported that three main dimensions emerged in young people’s definitions and descriptions of sacred moments: personal, relational, and extraordinary. This is a critical insight as we consider how to engage Gen Z and Gen Alpha in spiritual formation and growth. The importance of understanding individuals, engaging in meaningful and ongoing relationships, and facilitating extraordinary experiences (rather than prioritizing programs) are key takeaways from this study. You can find the full report at Springtide Research Institute. 

We are living in a pivotal chapter of our nation’s story. A tumultuous time in biblical history holds great perspective for us as we navigate significant changes in America today. The story of God’s people in the Old Testament, like the experiences of people throughout history, is riddled with conflict, challenges, and change.
 
One of the most dramatic seasons of change for Judah was undoubtedly the Babyonian invasion, and resulting exile, that occurred beginning in 607 B.C. The first chapter of the book of Daniel recounts the initial invasion: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia." We can only imagine the anguish and distress these couple of sentences represented for the people of God. It is difficult for us as believers today to understand all that the temple meant to God’s people then.
 
Verse two of chapter one says: “And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God.” The dramatic devastation and change in the lives of His people was not a surprise to God. In fact, the Scripture says that it was the Lord who gave Nebuchadezzar success. Twenty years after this initial invasion, Nebuchadnezzar succeeded in capturing Jerusalem and destroying the temple.
 
The meaning and traditions tied to the temple, articles from the temple, and the city of Jerusalem are monumental, as ongoing conflicts yet today testify. Nonetheless, God allowed an ungodly leader’s success in capturing, destroying and carrying off key elements of worship and religion in Judah. Why? What can we learn from Judah’s history as we navigate our own season of transition?
 
America is in significant cultural upheaval. Perspectives are changing. Values that were once held dear are being discarded. Established institutions and methods are being questioned and often rejected. In the midst of the ensuing chaos, the church is being forced to grapple with significant questions. In many cases, it can feel like the temple has been invaded, that the articles of the temple are being carried off into a foreign land by strangers who do not appreciate what they represent. The battering rams are pounding on the gates, and every faith-based institution--from missions agencies, to churches, schools, non-profit organizations, seminaries, publishing houses, and advocacy groups--is facing an identity crisis. I imagine some of the emotions felt by Christian leaders today reflect those of Judah’s leaders when the Babylonian soldiers entered Jerusalem.
 
Here is what encourages me: God was not shocked by Nebuchadezzar’s actions, and God is definitely not surprised by the changes we are facing today!  In fact, Scripture points to the fact that many who went into exile prospered where God had placed them (Jeremiah 29). Of course, it was not what they wanted, but it was what they needed. Decades later, when God opened the door for some of them to return to Judah and rebuild Jerusalem, there was a renewed sense of purpose, focus, and dedication to the Lord.  
 
The book of Daniel continues with the story of Daniel and his three faithful friends. Carried from Judah to Babylon, and forced into service in the king’s palace, these young men represented a transitional generation. They developed as leaders in the midst of upheaval for their people and led in a place and culture foreign to the mentors and leaders of their youth. In this regard, I believe they resemble young leaders today. God is raising up a remnant of young, godly leaders who will succeed as Daniel and his friends did in leading faithfully in the midst of adverse or complex situations. They are a Daniel Generation. Theirs is not an easy path; it will require sacrifice, wisdom, surrender and faith. In some ways, young people today are poorly equipped for the challenges they will face. This is where inter-generational understanding, mentoring, collaboration and leadership are critical. Leaders of all ages must engage to seek timely wisdom, and share perspectives, skills, and truths that will be needed in the days ahead.
 
It is important to note that if Daniel and his friends had refused to learn the language and literature of their new culture, they would have been ineffective. Instead, they successfully advised and served powerful and ungodly leaders in the land. For young leaders today, the challenge is to walk as Daniel did. He did not succumb to the influences and temptations of the culture around him, yet he did learn to navigate it and allow God to use him within it. We need the wisdom and favor that God gave Daniel to walk with truth, grace, and influence. It is time for a Daniel Generation to live and serve faithfully amid an ungodly culture, in humility glorifying the one true God!  ​